Court okays trial of Ofosu Ampofo

June 7, 2019 by with 0 comment

A Commercial High Court presided over by Justice Samuel Asiedu, Friday, dismissed an application filed by lawyer of the embattled National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Elder Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, seeking to dismiss some charges preferred against him by the State.

Elder Ampofo and Kwaku Boahen, Deputy National Communications Officer of the NDC, have been charged with conspiracy to commit crime to wit kidnapping. Additionally, Mr. Ofosu Ampofo has been charged with conspiracy to commit a crime to wit threat of harm.

It was the contention of Mr. Ofosu Ampofo’s lawyers that the second charge preferred against their client was frivolous and should therefore be dropped from charge sheet.

However, Justice Samuel Asiedu, ruled that the defence put up by Ofosu Ampofo’s lawyers were not fatal and that the charges were recognisable under the law.

He therefore ordered the commencement of the trial on July 8, 2019.

The Attorney-General on the other hand had argued that following the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election debacle on January 31, 2019, Ofosu Ampofo met with some NDC party communicators on February 3, 2019.

The A-G explained that at the said meeting, Ofosu Ampofo and Boahen set out a road map of criminal activities, including violence against the EC Chairperson, Mrs Jean Mensa and the Chairman of the National Peace Council, Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante.

According to the State lawyers, an audio recording of the said meeting was leaked leading to investigations by the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service into the comments on the tape.

The prosecution added that on February 20, 2019, Boahen granted a radio interview in which he confirmed his participation in the said meeting and also revealed that the leaked audio recording was a true reflection of what transpired at the February 3, 2019 meeting.

BoG fines Barclays Bank GH₵4.5m for wrong doing

June 3, 2019 by with 0 comment

The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has fined the Barclays Bank of Ghana an amount of GH₵4,579,256.32 for making frivolous quotes on Ghana’s Interbank Foreign Exchange Market.

The action of Barclays Bank, according to the Central Bank, is in breach of the Ghana Interbank Forex Market Conduct Rules.

A statement dated Monday, June 3, 2019, and released by the BoG in Accra said it is committed to ensuring sanity, transparency and promoting best practices that serve to develop and deepen the Forex Market in Ghana.

“In pursuit of the above goals, the Bank of Ghana will not hesitate to sanction any market participant whose actions contravene Ghana’s Interbank Forex Market Conduct Rules”, the statement in part read.

Invest in Technology and Innovation – Adwoa Safo to African Leaders

June 3, 2019 by with 0 comment

The Minister of State in charge of Public Procurement, Hon. Sarah Adwoa Safo, has charged African Leaders to take very drastic measures to invest heavily in technology and innovation in order to promote the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Of particular importance, is the Supply Chain sector, which she believes, will help rip the enormous benefits of a development that is sustainable to protect nature for the next generation.

“This is the time to collectively rise as a continent to bring innovation through science and technology to properly and effectively manage the Supply Chain of both Public and Private Sectors. That way, our economies will flourish and the future of our next generation will be protected”, she noted.

Hon. Safo, who is also the deputy Majority Leader of the Parliament of Ghana made this observation when addressing the Zambia Institute of Purchasing and Supply (ZIPS) annual national conference which was held in Livingstone on Thursday, May 30, 2019.

She spoke on the theme: ‘Promoting Ethical Procurement Practice through Good Governance and Sustainable Development’.

Her call for heavy investment in technology and innovation in the Supply Chain sector was premised on an article by Keely L. Croxton, Sebastian T. Gracia. Dastugu & Douglas Lambert of the Ohio State University and Dale S. Roger of the University of Nevada, where Hammer argues that; “streamlining cross-company processes is the next frontier for reducing costs, enhancing quality and speeding operations. It is where this decade’s productivity war would be fought. The victors will be those companies that would be able to take a new approach to business working closely with partners to design and manage processes that extend across traditional corporate boundaries. They would be the ones that make the leap from efficiency to super efficiency”.

Touching on what her home country, Ghana, has been doing in the field of technology and innovation to address some of the challenges globalization in the 21st century brings about, Hon. Adwoa Safo said the West African nation has developed a new policy framework on technology and innovation to drive the implementation of its sectoral policies, programs and strategies at all sectors of the Ghanaian economy.

For instance, she said the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has established a Presidential Advisory Council on Science, Technology and Innovation (PACSTI) to advise him on such issues and ensure the full implementation of the policy.

“Government as part of this policy will establish the Ghana Innovation and Research Commercialization Centre that will serve as the bridge between the government and public research institutions, academia on one hand and industry on other. The Centre will establish incubation centres with basic facilities that our innovators will need to compliment the work of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovations Plan (NEIP). Another pillar of this policy is the creation of a Fund for Research and Development on science, Technology and Innovation. The most crucial pillar of this policy is promoting the teaching of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) at all levels of the nation’s educational system. It is important to note that, this compliments the Presidents’ Free Senior High School Policy where basic through Senior Education in Ghana has been made free in all regions of Ghana”, she noted.

Commenting further, the Dome-Kwabenya lawmaker also urged other African Leaders to take inspiration from what Ghana and South Africa have been doing by adapting Digital Procurement to address corruption in the procurement procedures in spite of the connectivity challenges associated with it.

“Per a research finding by Forrester Consulting for Ivalua, only 16% of businesses had an advanced level of digital maturity in procurement, which gives them a competitive advantage, over rivals, though 65% assessed themselves as advanced”, she observed, calling for partnerships between the public and private sectors to drive the African agenda of technology and innovation forward.

“In the In the 21st Century of Globalization all efforts for promoting sustainable development in Supply Chain Management needs a collective effort at the global, continental, regional, sub-regional and national levels. We would need from both the private and public sectors, innovation, creativity, proactivity, political will to reach the uttermost level of Sustainable Development in Supply Chain Management bearing in mind the dynamics of the changing models of the 21st Century Supply Chain Innovations needs all hands-on deck”, she added.

Burkinabe with loaded gun at a Church mass busted

June 3, 2019 by with 0 comment

A 51 year-old man has been arrested by the Police in the Upper West Region.

The suspect, identified as Bilgo Tibila Desire, a Burkinabe national, was arrested during a church mass in Hamile on Sunday, June 2, 2019.

He was in possession of a pistol loaded with nine bullets, a search conducted on him revealed.

Further checks on him revealed a purported national identification card of Burkina Faso which indicates that he is a Macon (French word for builder).

Another identity card found on him shows that he is a Director of a Burkinabe compnay named Establissment Bilgo Tibila & Freres.

Tibila Desire, born January 1, 1968, has since been sent to the Regional Police Headquarters in Wa for interrogation.

Rawlings rejects offer to rename UDS after him

April 9, 2019 by with 0 comment

Former President, Jerry John Rawlings has rejected an offer by the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to rename the University of Development Studies (UDS) after him.

A draft Public Universities Bill, 2019, which is yet to be tabled before Parliament for consideration has proposed renaming four universities after eminent Ghanaian personalities, including the naming of UDS after Mr. Rawlings who ruled Ghana from 1979 to January 7, 2001.

UDS was established by PNDCL 279 during the reign of Mr. Rawlings as Head of State of Ghana.

However, a statement signed by Kobina Andoh Amoakwa from the Communications Directorate of the Office of Mr. Rawlings and released in Accra, Tuesday, April 9, 2019, said much as the Founder of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) appreciates the honour done him by President Akufo-Addo, he would be glad if the University is not named after him.

The former President, according to the statement, has had a long-standing principle not to have national monuments and facilities named after him.

“When the proposal for the naming of the UDS was first brought to the former President’s attention by the Education Minister in 2017, he thanked the President and the government for the honour, but politely declined the offer because he had a long-standing principle not to have national monuments and facilities named after him.”

“Indeed in November 2015 when the then government of the day offered to name the Offshore Cape Three Points Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel after him he turned down the offer as well. The former President has since the publication of the details of the new bill to be tabled to Parliament written to the Minister of Education to reiterate his position and kindly requested that the re-naming of UDS after him be withdrawn from the Draft Bill to be submitted to Parliament”, the statement in part read.

NSS releases postings of 9,018 nurses for 2019/2020 service year

April 2, 2019 by with 0 comment

The Management of the National Service Scheme (NSS) has released postings of Nine thousand and eighteen (9,018) nurses for the 2019/2020 service year to various health facilities in all the sixteen (16) regions across the country to undertake their mandatory one-year national service.

A statement signed by the Executive Director of the NSS, Mustapha Yusif, and released in Accra, Monday, is therefore requesting all eligible nurses who registered for the National Service to log onto the Secretariat’s website, www.nss.gov.gh to check their placements and then proceed to the various NSS Registration Centers to complete their registration processes.

The registration, according to the statement, starts from Thursday, April 4, 2019.

“It is important to note that the 2019/2020 service year for the eligible newly trained nurses starts on Monday, April 8, 2019”, the statement in part further read.

Below is the release from the NSS:

PRESS RELEASE_2019_06-NURSES POSTINGS RELEASE-1

Disbanding vigilante groups: Let’s hold this crucial meeting now – NPP to NDC

March 19, 2019 by with 0 comment

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has officially written to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) inviting them for a meeting to discuss and explore ways of permanently disbanding the various vigilante groups associated with the two major political parties.

The letter dated March 15, 2019, and signed by the General Secretary of the NPP, John Boadu, said the invitation is not only necessitated by the President’s call during the 2019 State of the Nation’s Address, but also, by the legitimate concerns expressed by overwhelming Ghanaians about political vigilante groups, and the need for the two political parties to do the needful in the interest of the nation.

To the NPP, the time for the said crucial meeting is now, calling on the NDC to avail themselves for the exercise in the course of the week and also urging them to look for a suitable venue convenient to them.

“You would recall that, since the President made this call, our National Chairman, Hon. Freddie Blay, has been engaging your good self in telephone conversation on the subject. We think that time is now rife for the parties to hold this crucial meeting, which the whole nation has been looking forward to”, the letter which was addressed to the National Chairman of the NDC in part read.

The NPP said they have also acceded to a request by the NDC to expand the scope of the engagement to include multiple stakeholders, noting that the “NPP avails itself for this consideration at the meeting, which will afford the two parties the opportunity to agree on the various stakeholders to be invited in the subsequent engagement”.

 

Renault considers establishing assembly plant in Ghana

January 28, 2019 by with 0 comment

French multinational automobile manufacturer, Renault, is considering the establishment of an automobile assembly plant in Ghana, following in the footsteps of Volkswagen, Nissan and Sinotruk that will, this year, establish assembly plants in Ghana.

Vice President and Chairman of the Africa-Middle-East-India (AMI) Region at Renault, Fabrice Cambolive, made this known on Monday, 28th January, 2019, when he paid a courtesy call on the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, at Jubilee House, the seat of the nation’s Presidency.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Cambolive stated that “for us, we are now to see if our capacity to bring our products to this country are marching with your policy and, if it is okay, we will be delighted to do that.”

He continued, “I have noticed a lot of values in the country, and they are very important to us. I hope that we will be able to concretize it in a really hard project, not a short-term project, but a long-term project, and if everything is matching, we will come back to you as soon as possible.”

On his part, President Akufo-Addo described the announcement as good news for the country.

He told the Renault Chairman that Ghana is the most ideal country in West Africa to establish an assembly base, and noted that all the economic indices which had gone haywire prior to his assumption of office are now pointing in the right direction.

Ghana, under the leadership of President Akufo-Addo, is now the largest recipient of Foreign Direct Investment in West Africa.

“We are the second largest economy in West Africa. So, there are lots and lots of reasons why Ghana is a well-positioned place for you.  We are looking upon ourselves as the gateway to West Africa, to a market of some 350 million people, which is scheduled to go up to 500 million people by the year 2030. So, we think that it will be a good place for you to make it”, the President added.

Already, global car manufacturing giants, Volkswagen, Sinotruk, and Nissan are expected to establish their assembly plants in Ghana this year.

About Renault

Renault is a French multinational automobile manufacturer established in 1899.The company produces a range of cars and vans, and in the past has manufactured trucks, tractors, tanks, buses/coaches and autorail vehicles.

According to the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d’Automobiles, in 2016 Renault was the ninth biggest automaker in the world by production volume. By 2017, the Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance had become the world’s biggest seller of light vehicles, bumping Volkswagen AG off the top spot.

Headquartered in Boulogne-Billancourt, near Paris, the Renault group is made up of the namesake Renault marque and subsidiaries, Alpine, Automobile Dacia from Romania, Renault Samsung Motors from South Korea, and AvtoVAZ from Russia.

Renault has a 43.4% controlling stake in Nissan of Japan, and a 1.55% stake in Daimler AG of Germany (since 2012, Renault manufactures engines for the Daimler’s Mercedes A-Class and B-Class cars).

Renault also owns subsidiaries RCI Banque (automotive financing), Renault Retail Group (automotive distribution) and Motrio (automotive parts). Renault has various joint ventures, including Oyak-Renault (Turkey), Renault Pars (Iran). The French government owns a 15% share of Renault.

 

Some NDC gurus still peddling falsehood about me – Rawlings

January 23, 2019 by with 0 comment

The Founder of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Jerry John Rawlings, says he finds it very difficult to believe why some members of the umbrella family are still bent on tarnishing his image by peddling falsehood about him.

According to the former Ghanaian Head of State, he has no intention of instigating the formation of a new political party as reported by www.ghananewsonline.com.gh.

On Monday, January 21, 2019, www.ghananewsonline.com.gh reported that there are some top NPP officials including the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, certain persons close to the founder of the NDC, the founder of the NDC himself, were in talks towards the formation of a new political party ahead of the 2020 election.

The formation of the new political party, according to the online news portal, is part of President Akufo-Addo and “his NPP’s agenda to weaken the base of the NDC before the 2020 general elections”.

However, in a statement released by the Communications Directorate of the Office of the former Ghanaian Leader dated Wednesday, January 23, 2019, Mr. Rawlings said there is no iota of truth of that publication and urged the general public to treat the report with the utmost contempt that it deserves.

He suspects those behind the news report which has since gone viral on social media and some mainstream media, are the same few people who planted fabricated news stories in the media in the run up to the 2016 general elections with the intent of tarnishing his hard won reputation.

“The carefully crafted falsehood is unfortunately the creation of a small element within the NDC keen on manipulating the minds of party faithful. This is not the first time they have attempted this kind of political trickery and falsehood. In the run up to the 2016 elections the same devious elements planted such fabrications in the media. Unfortunately they have not learnt from the party’s humiliating loss and have sharpened their arsenal for yet more fairytales. We urge the media and social media managers to confirm such reports with this office before publication”, the statement in part read.

Below is the full statement:

PRESS RELEASE

January 23, 2019

RE: REPORTS OF FORMATION OF NEW PARTY

The attention of the office of former President Jerry John Rawlings, has been drawn to a story making the rounds on social media and some mainstream media, that he has instigated the formation of a new party; a breakaway from the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The office urges the general public to treat the report with the utmost disregard and contempt.

The carefully crafted falsehood is unfortunately the creation of a small element within the NDC keen on manipulating the minds of party faithful.

This is not the first time they have attempted this kind of political trickery and falsehood. In the run up to the 2016 elections the same devious elements planted such fabrications in the media. Unfortunately they have not learnt from the party’s humiliating loss and have sharpened their arsenal for yet more fairytales.

We urge the media and social media managers to confirm such reports with this office before publication.

Issued By:

Kobina Andoh Amoakwa
(Communications Directorate)

Ahmed’s murder: Akufo-Addo has failed to guarantee our safety and security – NDC

January 18, 2019 by with 0 comment

Series of murder cases recorded in the past 30 days including that of Ahmed Hussein-Suale, an investigative journalists who was working with Anas Aremeyaw Anas and his Tiger Eye PI, has provoked the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to descend on the government led by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

In a statement dated Friday, January 18, 2019, and signed by the General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the party said the series of murder cases recorded in the country and the security agencies failure to make any arrest and bring the perpetrators to book is a clear demonstration that the safety and security of the people have been compromised by the government.

“The current situation evokes a sort of lawlessness that demonstrates failure on the part of the Akufo-Addo government to live up to its most fundamental responsibility – guaranteeing the safety and security of Ghanaians”, the statement in part read.

It added “There is no doubt, in the wake of the recent gruesome killings that we are in an era of contract killings reminiscent of the final years of the previous NPP Administration. The impunity and nonchalance with which these murders have been carried out, point to an emboldening of the criminals behind them, which stems directly from the unacceptably weak response from government and security agencies”.

Don’t use Kennedy Agyepong as scapegoat

Touching on the gruesome murder of the Hussein-Suale, NDC cautioned that the security agencies should not to focus their attention solely on the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyepong, as a prime suspect and use him as a scapegoat.

The NDC which is the largest opposition political party in the country urged the security agencies to look beyond the Assin Central lawmaker and strive hard to bring the perpetrators of the heinous crime to book.

According to the party, while it agrees in principle Hon. Agyepong’s possible involvement in the murder of Hussein-Suale, it would be prudent for the security agencies to tread with caution.

“We have also noted public outcry and demand for the arrest of Kennedy Agyapong, MP for Assin Central. While taking a serious view of his outrageous call for the assault of the late journalist and agreeing in principle with his questioning for possible involvement in this crime, we caution against the mere scapegoating of Mr. Agyapong as a ruse to cover up a potentially more sinister plot behind this killing”, the statement in part noted.

NAM 1 faces misdemeanor charges in UAE; case to be heard Feb. 2

January 18, 2019 by with 0 comment

The embattled CEO of gold dealership firm, Menzgold, Nana Appiah Mensah, aka NAM 1, is set to be trialed in the United Arab Emirates on February 2, 2019 to be determine whether he will be imprisoned or released to the Government of Ghana.

NAM 1 is currently being investigated by the Ghana Police Service and the Economic and Organized Crime Organization (EOCO) for allegedly defrauding customers of his company by false pretense.

He is reported to have breached a cooperation that existed between him the EOCO and travelled to the UAE to transact business.

However, he was arrested by the Persians and but behind bars with a court set to determine the finality or otherwise of his case on February 2, 2019.

A delegation made of a deputy Minister of Justice and Attorney-General and security agencies which travelled to the UAE with the hope of using diplomatic means to secure the release of NAM 1 to the Ghanaian Government has since returned home empty handed.

A joint statement released by the Police and the EOCO, Friday, said Nana Appiah Mensah will only be released to the Ghanaian authorities upon the final determination of the matter in the UAE.

“It is the understanding of the Ghanaian delegation that Mr. Appiah faces Misdemeanor charges in the UAE and will be made available to upon the final determination of his current matter in the UAE. His case is next due for court on February 2, 2019”, the statement in part read.

NAM 1, the statement added, has provided an extensive statement to the security agencies and the legal officers to assist in investigations into charges leveled against him in Ghana.

Ban Kennedy Agyepong and let FBI probe Hussein-Suale’s murder – Congressman writes to American Gov’t

January 18, 2019 by with 0 comment

A US Congressman, Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr, has written to the Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, asking for a swift intervention of the American Government into the gruesome murder of Ahmed Hussein-Suale, an investigative journalists who worked with Anas Aremeyaw Anas to expose widespread corruption in the Ghanaian football league.

In his letter dated January 18, 2019 , Mr. Johnson Jr, wants the American Government to assess the potential scope of U.S. diplomatic, law enforcement, intelligent support for the Government of Ghana’s investigation of Hussein-Suale’s death, including potential Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) support via the Office of the Legal Attachè at the U.S. Embassy in Accra.

He also wants the American Government to conduct an independent assessment of the murder and the quality and scope of the Ghanaian government’s investigation on the matter.

Further to that, Mr. Johnson Jr, wants the American Government to determine to place restrictions on the Assin Central lawmaker, Kennedy Agyepong, including a ban on travel to the U.S., a ban on access to the U. S. Banking System for Mr. Agyepong and his businesses, and any other appropriate and applicable sanctions.

Click on the the pdf file below to read the full letter Mr. Johnson Jr. wrote to Mike Pompeo:

Hussein-Suale_letter